Untangle automotive infotainment testing

IVI (in-vehicle infotainment) systems have changed dramatically over the last decade. They have been transformed from audio tuner, cassette, and CD-player systems into digitally networked, customizable units that integrate cloud, smartphone, and video-playback capabilities. The HMIs (human-machine interfaces) on IVI Systems are now high-resolution, color TFT (thin-film technology) displays that support multiple graphics-rendering surfaces, hardware acceleration, multi-touch UIs (user interfaces), and dual displays. With this complex convergence of entertainment, information, and communication elements and their multiple interaction scenarios, finding a way to verify and validate an automotive IVI system can be challenging, yet is key to creating a viable product.

??In fact, validation of an automotive electronic product can typically account for about 35% to 40% of the overall project engineering budget, but this engineering investment is often an afterthought for many organizations. The lack of foresight and planning can lead to significant cost overruns. It is possible, however, to handle complex testing and validation requirements by leveraging test methodologies from consumer, mobile, and enterprise domains.